UNDERSTANDING GOD'S MYSTERIES
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:10-17
I use parables when I speak to them because they look but do not see, they listen but do not hear or understand. v. 13
Did Jesus use parables to make his teaching clear or mysterious? Most people think parables make spiritual teachings clearer and more understandable to the common listener. Ironically, Jesus said he taught in parables in order to keep the meaning obscure! In Luke’s Gospel he said, "To you the mysteries of the reign of God have been confided, but to the rest in parables, that 'seeing they may not perceive.'" Luke’s account shows Jesus almost intentionally clouding his real meaning by using parables!
THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES WISDOM
Today’s passage from Matthew is more passive than Luke's, yet both bring out the mystical role of Jesus in helping us understand spiritual realities. Both Gospels tell us that Jesus personally explained the parables to his disciples. Both quote Jesus as saying, "To the man who has, more will be given until he grows rich; the man who has not will lose what little he had." The more here refers to wisdom and understanding. How do we obtain wisdom? James wrote, "If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given him. Wisdom is a gift from God, a gift of the Holy Spirit.
WISDOM FROM GOD INCREASES
The wisdom to understand Jesus' parables cannot be learned through natural knowledge. Paul wrote, "No one knows what lies at the depths of God but the Spirit of God." If we think we have the wisdom to understand Jesus' parables just because we are educated, then we will lose what little understanding we have. If we have understanding through the Spirit of God, whether we are educated or uneducated, our wisdom will increase to the point of great spiritual riches.
Seek the Spirit in your life, then Jesus' obscure teachings will become clear. Then Jesus will also say of you, "Blest are your eyes because they see and blest are your ears because they hear." Let us be eternally grateful that Jesus has given us his Spirit to personally reveal God's mysteries and wisdom to us.
John Michael Talbot
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
SEEK GOD, NOT HIS GIFTS
Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42
An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign! v. 39
Are we "gift- oriented"? Are we "sign-seekers?" Many get excited about healings and prophecies and apparitions in other lands. But often, as soon as the excitement wears off, faith wanes and their lives return to old secular ways.
SIGNS & WONDERS ARE A WITNESS
Jesus recognized that miracles and signs give witness to God’s power, although he said with some exasperation, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you do not believe." And yet Luke affirmed in Acts that Jesus was, "a man whom God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs as his credentials." Signs also accompanied the apostles and the early church: "A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles." Jesus himself promised, "Signs like these will accompany those who have professed their faith." So these and other scriptures tell us that signs and wonders are given by God to establish and strengthen saving faith!
UNDERSTANDING THE INCONSISTENCY
The story of Thomas helps us understand this apparent inconsistency. In order to strengthen Thomas' faith in his resurrection, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!" Then he said, "You became a believer because you saw me. Blest are they who have not seen and have believed." So we see that Jesus gives us signs and wonders because he knows we are weak. He loves us, so he meets us where we are. Yet he highly commends those who believe without seeing.
MATURE FAITH LOOKS BEYOND THE GIFT
Do we have such faith? Do we seek the gifts or the Giver of the gifts? Is it enough to simply remember the powerful salvation God has repeatedly brought into our life, or must we be constantly reminded? An adult remembers and calmly goes forward; a child must be constantly reminded and prodded to keep on going. Let us have the faith of a mature Christian. Let us be children no longer. As Paul wrote, "Let us, then, go beyond the initial teaching about Christ and advance to maturity."
John Michael Talbot
Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42
An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign! v. 39
Are we "gift- oriented"? Are we "sign-seekers?" Many get excited about healings and prophecies and apparitions in other lands. But often, as soon as the excitement wears off, faith wanes and their lives return to old secular ways.
SIGNS & WONDERS ARE A WITNESS
Jesus recognized that miracles and signs give witness to God’s power, although he said with some exasperation, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you do not believe." And yet Luke affirmed in Acts that Jesus was, "a man whom God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs as his credentials." Signs also accompanied the apostles and the early church: "A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles." Jesus himself promised, "Signs like these will accompany those who have professed their faith." So these and other scriptures tell us that signs and wonders are given by God to establish and strengthen saving faith!
UNDERSTANDING THE INCONSISTENCY
The story of Thomas helps us understand this apparent inconsistency. In order to strengthen Thomas' faith in his resurrection, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!" Then he said, "You became a believer because you saw me. Blest are they who have not seen and have believed." So we see that Jesus gives us signs and wonders because he knows we are weak. He loves us, so he meets us where we are. Yet he highly commends those who believe without seeing.
MATURE FAITH LOOKS BEYOND THE GIFT
Do we have such faith? Do we seek the gifts or the Giver of the gifts? Is it enough to simply remember the powerful salvation God has repeatedly brought into our life, or must we be constantly reminded? An adult remembers and calmly goes forward; a child must be constantly reminded and prodded to keep on going. Let us have the faith of a mature Christian. Let us be children no longer. As Paul wrote, "Let us, then, go beyond the initial teaching about Christ and advance to maturity."
John Michael Talbot
Friday, July 18, 2008
OUR SABBATH REST IS IN HIM
Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:1-8
It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice … The Son of Man is indeed Lord of the sabbath. vv 7-8
In today's Gospel Reading the disciples were in clear violation of the laws of the Jews. God had said, "Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord, your God."
THE LAW EXISTS FOR PEOPLE
A deeper reading of Scripture shows a less stringent approach to the law. Jesus pointed out: "The priests on temple duty can break the sabbath rest without incurring guilt." And David when he was fleeing Saul, "... ate the holy bread, a thing forbidden to him and his men or anyone other than priests." The law said, "It shall belong to Aaron and his sons, who must eat it in a sacred place," yet David and his men ate the sacred bread even though they were not priests.
Jesus' words show that people do not exist only to serve the law, that the law exists for people, to bring them to God. The law manifests God’s holiness and his mercy. To lose sight of this is to keep the law in vain.
JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH
Another reason the disciples' actions were acceptable is because of the divine authority of Jesus. True, they were in obedience to the heart of the law, but they were also obedient to the Giver of the laws. Jesus is "Lord of the Sabbath." Here Jesus called himself God! It is essential that we see Jesus as Lord, as God.
HIS SABBATH BRINGS INNER PEACE
In fulfilling religious laws of the church do we look to the spiritual heart of the law, or do we only see externals? Do we appreciate the rest and holiness of a weekly sabbath, or do we work nonstop? Hebrews instructs us that, "A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And he who enters into God’s rest rests from his own work as God did from his." Jesus' sabbath brings deep inner peace, something not possible from mere externals.
John Michael Talbot
Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:1-8
It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice … The Son of Man is indeed Lord of the sabbath. vv 7-8
In today's Gospel Reading the disciples were in clear violation of the laws of the Jews. God had said, "Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord, your God."
THE LAW EXISTS FOR PEOPLE
A deeper reading of Scripture shows a less stringent approach to the law. Jesus pointed out: "The priests on temple duty can break the sabbath rest without incurring guilt." And David when he was fleeing Saul, "... ate the holy bread, a thing forbidden to him and his men or anyone other than priests." The law said, "It shall belong to Aaron and his sons, who must eat it in a sacred place," yet David and his men ate the sacred bread even though they were not priests.
Jesus' words show that people do not exist only to serve the law, that the law exists for people, to bring them to God. The law manifests God’s holiness and his mercy. To lose sight of this is to keep the law in vain.
JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH
Another reason the disciples' actions were acceptable is because of the divine authority of Jesus. True, they were in obedience to the heart of the law, but they were also obedient to the Giver of the laws. Jesus is "Lord of the Sabbath." Here Jesus called himself God! It is essential that we see Jesus as Lord, as God.
HIS SABBATH BRINGS INNER PEACE
In fulfilling religious laws of the church do we look to the spiritual heart of the law, or do we only see externals? Do we appreciate the rest and holiness of a weekly sabbath, or do we work nonstop? Hebrews instructs us that, "A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And he who enters into God’s rest rests from his own work as God did from his." Jesus' sabbath brings deep inner peace, something not possible from mere externals.
John Michael Talbot
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
JESUS CALLS US TO RADICAL CHANGE
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24
He began to reproach the towns where most of his miracles
had been worked, with their failure to reform … "I assure you, it will go easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you on the day of judgment." vv. 20, 22
"Reform your lives! The kingdom of heaven is at hand." When Jesus said this he was not talking merely about a "feel good" faith, but a faith that radically changes lives. He was calling us to change, and change now. Because of the difficulty involved, he used militant language: "If your right hand is your trouble, cut it off and throw it away!"
LOVE GOD, SEEK THE SPIRIT & CHANGE!
Granted, most of our change is a love response to the love of God and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, it appears almost naturally in a life where the Spirit has been firmly and surely implanted. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," declared Paul. But even so he wrote that the "gifts of the Spirit" must be sought, and even a gift requires a willful response to reach out and receive. Such a response requires change!
This is how Peter put it, "You must reform and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." After this the Acts account gives a description of the radical communal life of the church in Jerusalem, where not only "many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles" but also "those who believed shared all things in common."
BE READY TO GIVE JESUS EVERYTHING
Are we willing to radically reform, or do we still want to hang on to our comfortable way of life? The Spirit will not move freely in us until we are ready to give Jesus everything. This means we must be willing to change everything! Reform and we will live! Resist reform and we are dead already.
John Michael Talbot
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24
He began to reproach the towns where most of his miracles
"Reform your lives! The kingdom of heaven is at hand." When Jesus said this he was not talking merely about a "feel good" faith, but a faith that radically changes lives. He was calling us to change, and change now. Because of the difficulty involved, he used militant language: "If your right hand is your trouble, cut it off and throw it away!"
LOVE GOD, SEEK THE SPIRIT & CHANGE!
Granted, most of our change is a love response to the love of God and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, it appears almost naturally in a life where the Spirit has been firmly and surely implanted. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," declared Paul. But even so he wrote that the "gifts of the Spirit" must be sought, and even a gift requires a willful response to reach out and receive. Such a response requires change!
This is how Peter put it, "You must reform and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." After this the Acts account gives a description of the radical communal life of the church in Jerusalem, where not only "many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles" but also "those who believed shared all things in common."
BE READY TO GIVE JESUS EVERYTHING
Are we willing to radically reform, or do we still want to hang on to our comfortable way of life? The Spirit will not move freely in us until we are ready to give Jesus everything. This means we must be willing to change everything! Reform and we will live! Resist reform and we are dead already.
John Michael Talbot
Friday, July 11, 2008
WITNESS BY THE SPIRIT
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:16-23
You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves ... The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. vv. 16, 20
Peter wrote, "Should anyone ask you ... be ever ready to reply." Our gospel reading tells us we must be both clever and innocent when we reply. But what does that mean and how do we do it?
TEACH BUT DO NOT ARGUE
Paul told Timothy to teach but not to argue: "I charge you to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient - correcting, reproving, appealing ~ constantly teaching and never losing patience." He also said, "Have nothing to do with senseless, ignorant disputations. As you well know, they only breed quarrels, and the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be kindly toward all. He must be an apt teacher, patiently and gently correcting those who contradict him." Teach? Yes. Argue? No. Clever? Yes. Theological speculation? No.
Rely on the power of the Spirit when you give witness and simply state how Jesus has made your life different. If your life does not demonstrate your words, the words will be meaningless. If your life has changed, your words will be charged with power. As Jesus taught the apostles, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses." At Pentecost the outpouring of the Spirit caused the empowered believers to make bold proclamations as the Spirit prompted them. Suddenly a handful of uneducated, working-class fishermen became eloquent preachers!
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU
Do we try to speak by our own power or by the power of the Spirit? Do we devise long speculative arguments to defend our doctrine? Remember that, right or wrong, no theology will be powerfully defended without the Spirit! If we seek the power of the Spirit, then our words become instruments of testimony before the small as well as the great. Twelve simple men were used as instruments of God to permanently change the world. God is willing to use you in the same way today!
John Michael Talbot
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:16-23
You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves ... The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. vv. 16, 20
Peter wrote, "Should anyone ask you ... be ever ready to reply." Our gospel reading tells us we must be both clever and innocent when we reply. But what does that mean and how do we do it?
TEACH BUT DO NOT ARGUE
Paul told Timothy to teach but not to argue: "I charge you to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient - correcting, reproving, appealing ~ constantly teaching and never losing patience." He also said, "Have nothing to do with senseless, ignorant disputations. As you well know, they only breed quarrels, and the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be kindly toward all. He must be an apt teacher, patiently and gently correcting those who contradict him." Teach? Yes. Argue? No. Clever? Yes. Theological speculation? No.
Rely on the power of the Spirit when you give witness and simply state how Jesus has made your life different. If your life does not demonstrate your words, the words will be meaningless. If your life has changed, your words will be charged with power. As Jesus taught the apostles, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses." At Pentecost the outpouring of the Spirit caused the empowered believers to make bold proclamations as the Spirit prompted them. Suddenly a handful of uneducated, working-class fishermen became eloquent preachers!
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU
Do we try to speak by our own power or by the power of the Spirit? Do we devise long speculative arguments to defend our doctrine? Remember that, right or wrong, no theology will be powerfully defended without the Spirit! If we seek the power of the Spirit, then our words become instruments of testimony before the small as well as the great. Twelve simple men were used as instruments of God to permanently change the world. God is willing to use you in the same way today!
John Michael Talbot
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
REAP A HARVEST FOR JESUS
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:32-38
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:32-38
The harvest is good but laborers are scarce. Beg the harvest master to send out laborers to gather his harvest. vv 37, 38
The needs of this world are great; the issues are pressing. Never before have our choices been so clear: Be pro-life or choose death; support military war and the unchecked buildup of nuclear arms, or seek peace; change our affluent life-style and preach the gospel to the poor or continue in our selfish indifference.
THE WORLD IS RIPE FOR EVANGELISM
Because of the clear consequences of our choices, the world is ripe for evangelism. When the need for gospel choices is so globally apparent, it becomes easier to proclaim the gospel. Because the need is obvious, presenting an answer becomes easy. The grey areas fast disappear in such an environment. It is like proclaiming the gospel in a prison. You do not have to convince a prisoner about the reality of sin. Inmates are intensely aware of the shortcomings of this world! All the evangelist must do is convince them that there is an answer.
UTILIZE BOTH WORDS AND ACTIONS
Scripture speaks of two ways of evangelizing. One is by speaking: "As you go, make this announcement: 'The reign of God is at hand!'" The other is by action: "Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the lepers, expel demons." As Paul wrote, "How can they believe unless they have heard of him? And how can they hear unless there is someone to preach?" We need to proclaim by words, but words without action are cheap, while action without explanation is sometimes unclear. We need both in order to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ!
How do we proclaim the gospel today? Grave issues call for radical responses, but also loving, balanced, and sure responses. Learn your faith and change your life-style, utilize both words and actions. Then you will reap a great harvest for Jesus.
John Michael Talbot
Photo by Pierangelo Rosati
Friday, July 4, 2008
VALUE LOVE ABOVE SACRIFICE
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:9-13
He said to him, 'Follow me.' Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened that, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s home, many tax collectors and those known as sinners came to join Jesus and his disciples at dinner ... 'It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice.' v. 9-10, 13
Jesus' call requires radical and immediate response, and a response that is livable. Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and became his followers. Of James and John it is said that they also immediately abandoned boat and father to follow him.
Jesus called Matthew just like the rest; Matthew responded like the rest. But Matthew then threw a party for Jesus at his house! Apparently Jesus' call to apostolic poverty and holiness did not forbid Matthew from making use of his house and maintaining contact with his old friends.
LOVE SATISFIES THE DEMANDS OF THE GOSPEL
There is a time to radically break with one’s past. Paul said, "Those things I used to consider gain I have now reappraised as loss in the light of Christ," but he did not imply that we should break association with all non-Christians.
In the end, love will satisfy the radical demands of the gospel. Love calls us to poverty. Love calls us to holiness. Without love, poverty becomes an empty and life-draining curse. Without love, holiness degenerates into cold and heartless self-righteousness.
Paul asserted that: "If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."
LET US LEARN THE WAYS OF LOVE
Is our Christianity radical or fanatical? A fanatic fulfills the radical externals of poverty and holiness but does so without love. Love softens the edge of razor-sharp issues and changes the cutting edge from a sword that kills and maims into a surgical knife that heals. It brings us to a balance between no-compromise and the leniency of wisdom.
Let us be radical, rather than fanatical, about the issues of poverty and moral purity. Let us learn the way of love.
John Michael Talbot
Photo St. Matthew by Lawrence OP
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:9-13
He said to him, 'Follow me.' Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened that, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s home, many tax collectors and those known as sinners came to join Jesus and his disciples at dinner ... 'It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice.' v. 9-10, 13
Jesus' call requires radical and immediate response, and a response that is livable. Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and became his followers. Of James and John it is said that they also immediately abandoned boat and father to follow him.
Jesus called Matthew just like the rest; Matthew responded like the rest. But Matthew then threw a party for Jesus at his house! Apparently Jesus' call to apostolic poverty and holiness did not forbid Matthew from making use of his house and maintaining contact with his old friends.
LOVE SATISFIES THE DEMANDS OF THE GOSPEL
There is a time to radically break with one’s past. Paul said, "Those things I used to consider gain I have now reappraised as loss in the light of Christ," but he did not imply that we should break association with all non-Christians.
In the end, love will satisfy the radical demands of the gospel. Love calls us to poverty. Love calls us to holiness. Without love, poverty becomes an empty and life-draining curse. Without love, holiness degenerates into cold and heartless self-righteousness.
Paul asserted that: "If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."
LET US LEARN THE WAYS OF LOVE
Is our Christianity radical or fanatical? A fanatic fulfills the radical externals of poverty and holiness but does so without love. Love softens the edge of razor-sharp issues and changes the cutting edge from a sword that kills and maims into a surgical knife that heals. It brings us to a balance between no-compromise and the leniency of wisdom.
Let us be radical, rather than fanatical, about the issues of poverty and moral purity. Let us learn the way of love.
John Michael Talbot
Photo St. Matthew by Lawrence OP
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